Sony RX100 V versus Canon 5D Mark II

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V and the Canon EOS 5D Mark II are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively,
in October 2016 and September 2008. The RX100 V is a fixed lens compact, while the 5D Mark II is a DSLR. The cameras are based on an one-inch (RX100 V) and a full frame (5D Mark II) sensor. The Sony has a resolution of 20 megapixel, whereas the Canon provides 21 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their size, their sensors, their features, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Sony RX100 V vs Canon 5D Mark II

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Sony RX100 V and the Canon 5D Mark II. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter. You can also use the toggle button to switch to a percentage comparison if you prefer that the measures are being expressed in relative terms (in this case, the camera on the left side – the RX100 V – represents the basis for the calculations across all the size and weight measures).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Canon 5D Mark II is considerably larger (193 percent) than the Sony RX100 V. It is noteworthy in this context that the 5D Mark II is splash and dust-proof, while the RX100 V does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the RX100 V has a lens build in,
whereas the 5D Mark II is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can find an overview of optics for the 5D Mark II and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the RX100 V gets 220 shots out of its NP-BX1 battery,
while the 5D Mark II can take 850 images on a single charge of its LP-E6 power pack.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left
arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and
make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

Any camera purchase will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The RX100 V was launched at a lower price than the 5D Mark II, despite having a lens build in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Sony RX100 V vs Canon 5D Mark II

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Sony RX100 V features an one-inch sensor and the Canon 5D Mark II
a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the 5D Mark II is 645 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.7 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 21MP, the 5D Mark II offers a higher
resolution than the RX100 V (20MP), but the 5D Mark II nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of
6.41μm versus 2.41μm for the RX100 V) due to its larger sensor. However, the RX100 V is a much more recent model (by 8 years) than the 5D Mark II, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the 5D Mark II has a markedly higher DXO score than the RX100 V (overall score 9 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 0.9 bits higher color depth, 0.5 EV of lower dynamic range, and 1.6 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the RX100 V provides a higher video resolution than the 5D Mark II. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison: Sony RX100 V vs Canon 5D Mark II

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the RX100 V has an electronic viewfinder (2359k dots), while the 5D Mark II has an optical one.
Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information
into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Sony RX100 V, the Canon 5D Mark II, and comparable cameras. The full specs-sheets can be found in the camera manual or in the dpreview camera hub.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The RX100 V has one, while the 5D Mark II does not.
While the build-in flash of the RX100 V is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed and shutter burst refer to the use of the mechanical shutter. In addition, the RX100 V features
an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (rolling shutter) or
shooting under artificial light sources (flickering).

The RX100 V is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Sony.
In contrast, the 5D Mark II has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 5D Mark II was succeeded by the Canon 5D Mark III.

Review summary: Sony RX100 V vs Canon 5D Mark II

So how do things add up? Is the Sony RX100 V better than the Canon 5D Mark II or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

More flexible: Makes it possible to change lenses and thus to use specialty optics.

Longer lasting: Gets more shots (850 versus 220) out of a single battery charge.

Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.

Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.

More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in September 2008).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the RX100 V is the clear winner of the match-up (15 : 11 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera.

RX100 V 15:11 5D Mark II

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the RX100 V and the 5D Mark II in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate. This is why expert reviews are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). The full reviews are available by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool. If the camera you are interested in is not available, please send me an email, and I will try to update the database with the necessary infos.